Kids' Dictionaries

If your children are school aged and the only dictionary you have in the house is a twenty pound unabridged Webster’s, it’s time to start looking at kids’ dictionaries. There are plenty of quality children's dictionaries to choose from no matter what developmental age your child is approaching.

Picture dictionaries are perfect for the earliest learners. Children who are just learning the alphabet or are trying to master alphabetical order will find a picture dictionary useful. A young child can learn from a picture dictionary by looking at the pages on her own, but will gain more from using the dictionary with an adult. An excellent picture dictionary choice is My First Dictionary: 1000 Words, Pictures, and Definitions by Betty Root. This hardback dictionary is fully illustrated with photos and drawings highlighting words most used by young children. Each entry includes a simple word definition and a corresponding picture definition wherever possible.

Elementary dictionaries are perfect for children between the ages of seven and ten. These dictionaries include all the elements of a dictionary, but are written to be child-friendly. The words are chosen from the language most used by elementary aged children. The definitions are simple and the print is large enough to be comfortable and engaging for children. Merriam Webster’s Elementary Dictionary is a smart choice for elementary-aged learners.

Intermediate dictionaries are perfect for the more mature learner who is seeking a user-friendly set-up but more sophisticated definitions. These dictionaries usually include an extensive guide on how to use a dictionary as well. Merriam Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary has more than 65,000 entries including over 1000 illustrations and tables.

Every child will be asked to learn the different parts of a dictionary and how and why to use them at some point. As vocabulary study is almost always included in a reading program, children will need to be able to look up words in the dictionary. Early readers will need to master alphabetization while intermediate learners will be expected to use guide words and to understand pronunciation guidelines. How to Use a Dictionary: Picture Book for Children is an excellent resource for young children studying dictionary skills, while Merriam-Webster’s How to Use Your Dictionary: Fun Activities for Students Learning Dictionary and Thesaurus Skills is perfect for the older student.

Although it is important that children practice dictionary skills and eventually master their use, there are times when it is inappropriate to send a child to the dictionary. Kids' dictionaries are a great resource when a child is required to define vocabulary words, but children should not be sent to the dictionary when reading for meaning or writing if at all possible. When a reading child encounters an unfamiliar word, he may stop reading to ask a parent or teacher for the meaning. When the parent or teacher quickly provides the meaning, the child is likely to absorb the information without losing interest or comprehension of the text. When a child has to put down his book to struggle with a dictionary to get the meaning, he is not only likely to lose interest in his reading, but he will probably not ask for the meaning of unfamiliar words again! This is true when a child is writing as well. Never make a child look up the spelling of a word if he asks, when you can correctly spell the word for him. When a child is required to look up the spelling of words he does not know while writing, he is likely to avoid those words in his writing. When he is given immediate feedback from an adult, he is more likely to take vocabulary risks in his writing.

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